Plug sockets



Feb. 27, 1962 P. F, J. LAMAUDIERE 3,023,392

PLUG SOCKETS Filed July 1, 1957 I IV VE N TOR PA [/1 [RA/YW/S J55? p17 M/lMUfi/f Rf MZW United States Patent Ci 3,023,392 PLUG SOCKETS Paul Francois Joseph Lamaudiere, 81 Blvd. Suchet, Paris, France Filed July 1, 1957, Ser. No. 669,074 Claims priority, application France Jan. 3, 1957 3 Claims. (Cl. 339-33) My invention has for its object an improved plug socket including elastic copper members.

My invention has more particularly for its object the provision of a plug socket the constitution of which allows using different cylindrical pins of variable diameter and also pins of a rectangular cross-section so as to allow the connection as desired with jacks of the universal or of the French type provided with round pins as well as with American jacks provided with fiat pins.

A further object of the invention is to provide a plug socket in which the contact with the pin is always obtained through three points while furthermore the engagement betweeneach pin and cooperating female member produces simultaneously a perfect contact and a perfect centering of the system of the two female members with reference to the system constituted by the two pins.

With a view to reaching these various objects, my

improved plug socket includes two copper or the like female members mounted freely incorresponding housings, each of said members being constituted by a cut metal strip bent inwardly so as to form between its free edges a gap adapted to receive the cylindrical pin.

Preferably, the free ends considered are inturned and terminate at a small distance from the wall of the central section of the female members facing said ends so as to allow the introduction into the gap thus formed between the two ends and said central wall, of a flat pin of the American type. v

According to a further feature-of the invention, each female member includes a bentbottom section to which are secured the wire connecting means such as a terminal or preferably, a suitable wire clamp the screw. of which projects inside and axially of the gap between the ends of the female member. 9

In a modified embodiment, it is also possible to provide an elastic open ring the free ends of which may pass through the bent sections of the female member so as to engage the outer surfaces of the inturned ends thereof and to bestow the system with an increased elasticity which allows using pins of different diameters with the same plug socket.

Further features and advantages of the invention will appear in the reading of the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing given by way of exempliiication and by no means in a limiting sense. In said drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view from above of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a plan view from above of one of the female members.

FIG. 4 is a cross-section through line IV--IV of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows how the connection may be made without dismantling the lower cover.

FIG. 6 shows another manner of making the connection after dismantling the cover for obtaining a throughconnection.

In the embodiment illustrated more particularly in FIGS. 1 and 2, the elements of the plug socket are arranged inside a body 1 incorporating a collar 2 and forming the plate appearing to outward view when the connection is fitted in position.

In this plate 2 are provided the two usual openings 3 and 4 through which the socket is secured to a wall 3,023,392 Patented Feb. 27,. 1962 together with the conventional passageways for the pins.

Each of said passageways includes cross-sectionally an approximately circular part 5 which extends inwardly in the shape of a substantially rectangular part 6.

It is thus possible to engage inside the socket body a corresponding male element constituted by cylindrical pins passing through the circular parts 5 or else by flat pins which engage correspondingly the rectangular parts 6.

Of course, the spacings between the pairs of cooperating sections 5 or 6 correspond to the normal spacing of the round or flat pins on the male element according to the case.

As illustrated in FIG. 2., each of the openings 5-6 opens into a recess 7 or 8 containing the actual female member 9 or 10 which is housed freely therein. The

whole system is closed by a cover 11 secured to the body 1 by thescrew 12 and the bottom of-which is provided with two openings 13 and 14 the part played by which is disclosed hereinafter:

As illustrated more particularly in FIGS. 2 to 4, each of the female members is constituted by a metal strip 15 folded so as to form two forwardly converging sections 16 and 17 the ends of which are slightly spaced with reference to one another and convergev again at their tips 18 and 19 so as to form between them an approximately cylindrical gap 20 adapted to house the corresponding cylindrical pin in registry with the screw 28 described hereinafter. A flat pin may similarly be inserted between the tips.

This same copper or the like female metal member includes a lateral tongue 21 folded at 90 so as to form a seat for the connecting means of which an embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 4 at 2223.

The wire from the network is secured to the female member through its clamping between the inner plate .1. 22 and the tongue 21 rigid therewith on the one hand and the outer metal plate 23 on the other hand. Said plate 23 having a square shape which is substantially identical with the shape of the inner plate, rests on the latter through its feet 24 and 25 (FIG. 2) obtained "1 through cutting and folding and the height of which is smaller than the diameter of the wire to be connected. Thus plate 23 is maintained parallel to the pieces 21 and 22 and slightly spaced therefrom for ease in connecting a wire therebetween which can then be retained by tightening screws 28.

The wire may thus enter any one of the free surfaces of the arrangement which are accessible, to wit one transverse and two longitudinal vertical sides. To this end, the cover 11 is provided with six recesses such as 26 and 27, i.e. three recesses for each female member, said recesses being provided on the three vertical sides of the cover referred to, as shown in FIG. 2.

The outer metal plate 23 is secured to the body of the female member through a screw such as 28 which passes completely through said outer plate 23 and the inner plate 22 and projects into the gap 20. Said screw 28 is in threaded engagement with inner plate 22. In order to increase the elasticity of the arms 1618 and 17-19 of the female member, it is possible to provide in the inturned part of each of these arms an opening through which an open elastic ring 31 may be introduced, said ring bearing against the outer surface of the terminal sections of said arms in registry with the location to be occupied by the corresponding pin. Said ring increases the elasticity of the two free arms inside the socket and urges the latter into contacting relationship with the pin. Each of the female members 9 and 10 moving freely inside its housing, it is apparent that the introduction of the pins positions said members with the suitable spacing between them while said members mate freely the outer surfaces of the pins and take into account if necessary any slight obliquity of the pin axes.

A perfect centering is ensured together with an optimum electric contact through the fact that each pin enters completely a gap 2|) while its end finds naturally a bearing against the inner end of the screw 28.

The plug socket described may be used in the manner illustrated in FIG. 5, i.e. without removing the cover 11. As a matter of fact, it is sufiicient to release the screws such as 28 through insertion of a screw-driver in the corresponding opening 13 or 14 in the cover. The wires to be connected 32 and 33 are inserted through one of the openings such as 26 or 27 between the plate 20 and the system constituted by the tongue 21 and the inner plate 22. A mere screwing home of the screws 28 provides then for the securing of the wire.

' If it is desired to obtain a through connection, it is sufficient to remove the cover 11 (FIG. 6) so as to execute the connection of the wire with a greater ease through its insertion between the plates 22 and 23 without cutting it, the input and output directions of the wire facing the passageways which are the most suitable for the wiring diagram to be executed.

The present invention is capable of considerable modification and such changes thereto as come within the scope of the appended claims are deemed to be a part thereof.

What I claim is:

'1. A socket for plugs having various shaped pins comprising a body of insulating material provided with parallel recesses each having an opening of a configuration for receiving a plug fiat pin and plug round pin, a pair of female members each freely housed and retained by said body within one of said recesses and provided by a metal strip having a U-shaped configuration provided by a base and pair of legs having one edge thereof positioned facing its respective recess opening, each female member further having said legs thereof each bent at a medial portion with the free end portion extending in a reverse direction to and between said legs towards but spaced from the base thereof with the tip of each free end portion and said base providing a gap for receiving a plug flat pin extending from the recess opening facing said member, therebetween, said leg free end portion being curved extending outwardly from one another and then inwardly extending towards one another for receiving a plug round pin extending from the recess opening facing said member, between the free end portions thereof and means for connecting conductive wires to said female members.

2. A socket for plugs having various shaped pins, as claimed in claim 1, wherein a tongue is connected to and extends at a right angle to the base of each of said female members and said connecting means are carried by said tongues.

3. A socket for plugs having various shaped pins as claimed in claim 1, wherein a cover for said body has a bottom with a pair of openings each in registry with one of said recesses in said body, means detachably connects said cover to said body with said cover openings in register with said body recesses and each of said wire connecting means consists of a tongue connected to and extending at right angles to the base of each-of said female member with said tongue having an opening, a pair of plates each mounted on an opposite side of said tongue and having a central opening, said female member base and legs being positioned on one of said plates, a screw extending through said plate openings and said tongue opening and being in threaded engagement with the one of said plates having said female member legs and base positioned thereon and each screw being in line with one of said cover openings for being reached therethrough for adjustment and said cover has a peripheral longitudinally extending flange provided with openings for the passage of said wires to be connected between said extensions and said plates by tightening said screws.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,425,694 Recker Aug. 15, 1922 1,442,284 McKay Jan. 16, 1923 1,582,957 Avery May 4, 1926 1,729,678 Morey Oct. 1, 1929 1,939,813 Hagist Dec. 19, 1933 1,991,607 Faile Feb. 19, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS 756,365 Great Britain Sept. 5, 1956 1,073,818 France Mar. 24, 1954 

